The strongest asset that you have is your team. A strong team looks out for each other, is motivated and efficient and carries out projects with confidence and speed to meet and surpass deadlines.
Many managers assume that training only applies to the newly-hired or newly-promoted employees. This perception could not be further from the truth. According to the Harvard Business Review, the leading reason for employees to leave their jobs is due to poor quality relationships with their managers.
Mangers who don't show interest in the development of their teams will experience poorer performance and loss of valuable talent. As a manager it is your responsibility to ensure that your team members are given the opportunity to continuously develop and grow both as individuals and as a group.
If your team is long overdue on training then don’t panic, there are plenty of trainers waiting to transform your team into a well-oiled machine. With so many topics, methods and providers out there these days, we know that it can be difficult and overwhelming to find the best training for your team. That's why we've put together an easy guide to help you find the right training as soon as possible!
Step 1: Discover your training needs
What skills are your team lacking? What tools will help them perform better as individuals? What specific training is needed to boost group morale and efficiency?
These are the questions you need to be asking when considering professional development for your team. Open communication is key. By asking the right questions, you can discover what is lacking and what skills need attention.
Most managers assume that team training always refers to training that is completed in a group - but that isn't always the case. Sometimes team members require individual attention for different skill-sets. Everyone has different strengths which can require personal training.
If every member feels that they are valued and allowed to develop in their own special areas then that will make them stronger as a unit. So don't be surprised if separate training courses are required.
Step 2: Choose your training format
After assessing where training is needed, you can move on to choosing a training format. Professional training is delivered in three different styles - classroom, in-house, E-learning and live webinar.
It is important to understand what is offered in each format before you book a course so that you fully understanding what you’re paying for. Each training method has its strengths and weaknesses, depending on the number of employees being trained and the specific topic being covered.
When choosing a training format, the most important aspect to consider is learning styles. Find out how your team members prefer to learn and save time wasted ineffective courses. Read through the descriptions of each style to determine what method/methods will work best for your team.
Classroom
Traditional classroom style training is the format that managers are the most familiar with. You send your team out to a set location where they are trained by an expert instructor along side other professionals looking to learn new skills. Classroom courses are beneficial because they provide an environment devoted to learning. This helps reduce distractions and improves the chances of skills development.
Benefits:
- Enroll individually or as a group
- Efficient method of presenting material
- Face to face training
- Ability to ask questions
- Networking with other professionals
- Better focus from fewer distractions
- Hands-on participation
Disadvantages:
- Cost and time wasted on travel
- Training depends on lecturer's knowledge
- Content may not be specific to your role
- Fixed-time commitment
In-House
In-house courses are a great option when it comes to team development. With in-house training the provider will come directly to your location and unlike classroom based courses they will often format the material to meet your individual needs. In addition, in-house can save time and money since you don’t need to send your team out to a remote location.
Benefits:
- Cost is less when training multiple people
- Save time and money on travel
- Customized training
- Team building
- You choose the time
- Face to face training
- Ability to ask questions
Disadvantages:
- Setting up equipment and space for training
- Can't learn from others
- Office distractions
Live Webinar
If you’re working within a satellite team then online training in the form of a live webinar can be your best option. Team members do not need to be in the same location to participate in the course and they still get the benefits of collaborating together.
Benefits:
- Cost efficient
- Save time and money on travel
- Customized training
- Ability to ask questions
- Train with team members in different locations
- Team building
Disadvantages:
- Easy to get distracted
- Reliant on technology
- Not as personal
E-learning
These days technology is in the center of everything - and that is not limited to training. Online training gives professionals the freedom to format their training around work and participate when it best suits their schedule. Although this is beneficial, with online training participants need to be accountable and actually take the time to complete the course.
Benefits:
- Accessibility
- Cost-effective
- Skip over topics
- Can review course material
- No fixed time-commitment
Disadvantages:
- Easy to get distracted
- Can't ask questions
- No feedback
Step 3: Find a course
With so many training companies offering different services it can be hard to not only find all the courses available but to also choose between them. Many managers turn to google to search for adequate training courses for their team as a first resort.This may seem like the obvious and simple solution to finding training but is not the best way to look.
Although there are many top providers ranking on google, you do not get to see nearly all there is, limiting your chances of finding the best course for you. Here are a few different ways to find suitable providers.
1. Training search engine
Even though google is not the best option, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't use a search engine to find a training course. Just like you use a search engine to find a hotel when going on vacation, there are similar platforms for professional development.
Using a search engine such as findcourses.com is a great way to find training for your team. With findcourses.com you can filter your search by topic, location, training format, price, and length.
In addition, most courses have reviews next to them so you can see what other people have to say about various training providers. This allows you to compare and browse through a plethora of options, enhancing the opportunity to find a course for your team.
2. Referrals
Finding training through referrals is another good way of finding a suitable training course. Hearing firsthand what someone’s experience is with a training provider will make you feel confident in their abilities to help your team develop.
Ask colleagues, friends and other professionals if they have any positive experiences that they can pass on to you. Getting suggestions from people you trust will leave you feeling confident and excited when you book training for your team.
The benefits of training your employees largely out weighs the time and cost that goes into it. According to Forbes, investing in training shows your dedication to teaching your team how to master their roles and shows that you care about their happiness at work.
The benefits according to FM Library include increased job satisfaction, employee motivation, efficiency resulting in financial gain, innovation in strategies and products, reduced employee turnover and more!